The Ottawa Hospital New Campus Development - Phase 2 Associated Project: Prince of Wales Drive Intersection Enhancements

Project Background:

The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) is undertaking a New Campus Development (NCD) to replace the ageing Civic Campus located at 1053 Carling Avenue (https://newcampusdevelopment.ca/).

The NCD site is an approximately 20-hectare property located to the south and west of the intersection of Carling Avenue and Preston Street, on two parcels that are separated by the City's existing Trillium LRT Line.

Due to the project's size, the NCD is being approved in phases.  To date, project development and approval phases have included:

  • Phase 1: Master Site Plan
  • Phase 2: Parking Garage and Green Roof
  • Phase 3: Central Utility Plant (CUP)
  • Phase 4: Main Hospital Building

Construction of the Phase 2 Project (Parking Garage and Green Roof) has begun and is considered the first phase of implementation of the Master Site Plan for the NCD. The Phase 2 Project was initially posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry in 2021 (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/83161?culture=en-CA) and a Notice of Determination was issued April 8, 2022 (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/document/143564).

Project Summary and Objectives:

The Prince of Wales Drive Intersection Enhancements, which is supplemental work to Phase 2 of the project, consist of the construction of two protected intersections with bi-direction cross-rides and two unidirectional cycle tracks along Prince of Wales Drive, the relocation of the sidewalks on the west side of Prince of Wales Drive and Preston Street and a unidirectional cycle track, and reconstruction of the sidewalk on the east side of Prince of Wales Drive.

The project will mostly take place within the City of Ottawa Right-of-Way and federally owned Queen Elizabeth Driveway, but also includes modifications of adjacent federal lands. The site is located along Prince of Wales Drive from the Preston Street intersection to the proposed "Road B" intersection (see map below) with the NCD site, 105 m south of the LRT trench. Surrounding the site are the Dominion Arboretum, the Arboretum Pathways, and the HMCS Carleton to the south, Rideau Canal Western Pathway, Dow's Lake and the Dow's Lake Pavilion to the southeast, Commissioners Park to the northeast, and the Trillium Pathway and the NCD site to the northwest.

The construction work will require a temporary pedestrian and cyclist detour as well as the removal of approximately six (6) trees (to be compensated at a 2:1 replacement ratio). The use of additional Federal land will be required on the east side of Prince of Wales Drive and on the west side of Preston Street as indicated in the figure below.

 

A map of a city AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Works associated with the Prince of Wale Drive Intersection Enhancements are expected to take place in four stages. The table below lists the overall proposed work that would occur on both City of Ottawa and federal lands. Bolded and italicized items within the table indicate works occurring on federal land.

Stage

Construction Activities

Stage 1: Site Preparation
  • Installation of hoarding and environmental protection measures
  • Vegetation clearing
  • Temporary pedestrian and cyclist detour work for future stages
  • Set up temporary signal plant and street lighting (at existing signals only)

Stage 2: Construction of Hospital fronting infrastructure, Road B intersection, and Preston Street Watermain
  • Road removals and addition of a north-bound left turn lane at Preston Street (excavations, granulars, hot mix)
  • All permanent service and fire hydrant connections for watermain
  • Install new concrete curbs and sidewalk and cycle track
  • Permanent signal plant

Stage 3:

Construction of Arboretum fronting infrastructure and quadrants at Preston and Prince of Wales
  • Road removals and northbound left turn lane at new intersection with Hospital Road B (excavations, granulars, hot mix)
  • Install new concrete curbs and sidewalk and cycle track
  • Permanent signal plant

Stage 4:

Complete remaining inspection works, final paving, and landscaping
  • Final asphalt paving
  • Permanent pavement markings and signage
  • Activate permanent signal plant
  • Remove temporary signal plant
  • Landscaping and tree plantings
  • Remove any and all temporary works
  • Demobilization at end of all construction

 

All typical machinery associated with road construction (e.g. excavator, chipper, milling machine, paving machines, rollers, dump trucks, loaders, packers, etc.) will be used and accessing the project area from the existing roads (Prince of Wales Drive and Queen Elizabeth Driveway) to minimize impacts to adjacent federal lands.

Construction of the road and intersection works will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 of construction will close the west side of Prince of Wales Drive and Preston Street to vehicle traffic. This will provide space for the storage of construction equipment within the municipal rights-of-way along Prince of Wales Drive and Preston Street. Once the Phase 1 is completed, Phase 2 of construction will commence on the east side of the Prince of Wales Drive and Preston Street. Phase 2 will close the east side municipal rights-of-way to vehicle traffic and will provide space for the storage of construction equipment. Lay down and material storage will be determined by the contractor. Based on this approach it is expected that construction staging and equipment storage will not impact Federal lands.

 

Federal Authorities:

The project is subject to Sections 81 to 91 of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA).  The National Capital Commission, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Department of National Defence are acting as federal authorities completing the Environmental Effects Determination (EED) for this project under the IAA, as required.

The following paragraphs describe each custodian's role as a federal authority under Sections 81-91 of the IAA and outlines their responsibilities.

National Capital Commission (NCC):

A segment of the project is located on lands under NCC custodianship.  The NCC is also responsible for issuing Federal Land Use, Design and Transaction Approval (FLUDTA) under the National Capital Act. The NCC must also make an EED to allow the project to proceed.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC):

A segment of the project is located on lands under AAFC custodianship. AAFC must make an EED to allow the project to proceed.

Department of National Defence (DND):

A segment of the project is located on lands under DND custodianship. DND must make an EED to allow the project to proceed.

Other Authorities

The City of Ottawa:

The City of Ottawa is a municipal approval authority for this project through the Site Plan Control process as well as for roadway and intersection works through the Roadway Modifications and Municipal Consent Process. The City will also be the operator/maintainer of the constructed facilities.

For additional information, please refer to the following:

More

Latest update

April 30, 2025 – The public comment period on the project is closed. The National Capital Commission is considering comments received to help inform its determination on whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Participate

Key documents

Contacts

National Capital Commission
Environmental Assessment
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A8
Email: IA-EI@ncc-ccn.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Prince of Wales Drive (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Highways and Roads

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2025-03-31

  • Proponent

    The Ottawa Hospital

  • Authorities

    • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    • Department of National Defence
    • National Capital Commission

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89404

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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